USC hopes Kessler gets a hand from line

Sept. 22, 2013

Updated 7:55 p.m.

1 of 1

USC quarterback Cody Kessler hit his throwing hand on at least one Utah State helmet during Saturday's game, but USC coach Lane Kiffin said Kessler should be fine for this Saturday's game at Arizona State. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

USC quarterback Cody Kessler hit his throwing hand on at least one Utah State helmet during Saturday's game, but USC coach Lane Kiffin said Kessler should be fine for this Saturday's game at Arizona State. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Equipment can protect a quarterback’s head, shoulders and chest, but unfortunately for USC’s Cody Kessler, the hands aren’t always unscathed after a ferocious pass rush.

USC escaped with a 17-14 victory over Utah State on Saturday, but Kessler left the Coliseum with an ice bag on his throwing hand, which he banged on at least one Aggie helmet. Kessler, playing behind a rickety offensive line, was sacked three times and took a handful of big hits just after he released the ball.

Kessler completed 13 of 27 attempts for 164 yards and one touchdown against Utah State.

“I think you do see a difference after (the injury) happened in the game, in his accuracy and his ability to grip the ball,” Coach Lane Kiffin said of Kessler. “That shows up in the passing game after that happened.”

Kiffin, in his Sunday night teleconference, said he expected Kessler to be “fine” when USC (2-1) plays Saturday night at Arizona State, but Kessler might have to prepare himself for another painful game.

Arizona State (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12 Conference) is coming off a 42-28 loss to fifth-ranked Stanford, and while the Sun Devils are primarily known for their offense, there are a handful of hard-hitters on defense.

Defensive tackle Will Sutton is the reigning Pac-12 defensive player of the year, after a 2012 season in which he had 13 sacks. Sutton has yet to record one this year, and has only nine tackles in three games, but he’s backed up by two game-changing linebackers in Carl Bradford and Antonio Longino.

“We’re going to play some really good players throughout this year on the defensive line, some of the best in the country,” Kiffin said.

The good news for the Trojans is, their offensive line got some practice against Utah State linebacker Kyle Fackrell, who had two of the Aggies’ four sacks and forced a Kessler fumble. Fackrell, in an edge-rushing role, provided a huge challenge for USC’s first-year left tackle, redshirt freshman Chad Wheeler.

“He just had a war on his hands,’’ Kiffin said of Wheeler.

USC quarterbacks have been sacked nine times in four games this year.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Kiffin also said he expects receiver Marqise Lee, who is nursing an ankle injury, to be “fine” for Saturday.

Saturday’s game will have a kickoff time of 7:30 p.m. and be televised on ESPN2. The Trojans haven’t played a road game since their Aug. 29 season-opening victory at Hawaii. The Trojans have opened as 7-point underdogs after being favored in each of their first four games.

“It’s always good to be on the road,” tailback Tre Madden said. “It’s been great being home three straight weeks, but we want to go and take someone else’s home away.”

That will be a challenge against Arizona State’s fast-paced offense, which has averaged 38.3 points and 469.3 yards per game this season behind efficient and dynamic quarterback Taylor Kelly.

Kiffin expressed admiration for the Sun Devils’ offense but said it wouldn’t be feasible for USC to play at such a quick pace because of NCAA scholarship limitations. USC has turned into something of a clock-control team, with an average time of possession of 33 minutes, 38 seconds, this season.

Lee had six catches for 72 yards against Utah State on Saturday, and apparently has a big fan in Aggies coach Matt Wells, who heaped praise on the USC receiver after the game.

“In my 17 years coaching, he may be the best wide receiver I’ve seen on film or live,” Wells said. “He’ll have a tremendous year. It must be fun to scheme for him, to get him the ball. It was a major challenge for our guys (to defend Lee) and I thought they held up in a lot of ways.”

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.